Freelance work sustained us upon arrival in Elko, NV, and grew to include the new practice that hired my bride as a medical assistant. Once we settled in, I took gigs selling radio advertising for two station owners before training new radio sales reps for a third. Lessons from David and Chris back in Milwaukee were illustrated with anecdotes from my decades of sales experience. One of those radio stations shared its newscaster, Lori, with the local NBC TV affiliate.

Lori introduced me to the station manager, Terry, another local radio veteran. My prior video production experience was slim but adequate for a gig selling, writing, and producing local TV ads. Occasionally, I’d shoot something for the news, operate a studio camera, or repair the TelePrompTer when it died. The high desert is home to few pirates, and two TV advertisers, in particular, liked the cut of my jib.

Mike ran Plumbline Mechanical, a family-owned plumbing & HVAC business. As I shot the company’s wrapped vehicles, he asked me to crop out the web address, as he didn’t feel it was ready for prime time. While shooting, I suggested he get his site fixed, which led to an in-house marketing gig. Duties there grew to include day-to-day management of his Benjamin Moore Signature paint store. Working closely with Wally, the sales manager, the company enjoyed considerable success.

Lane ran The Pizza Barn, a family-owned restaurant that enjoyed a legacy position in the market. For decades, he'd bought "packages" from the salesfolk at area stations, and he was surprised that I didn’t want to get to the pitch, but discuss how his business was doing before suggesting he buy from me. Becoming his trusted advisor, we leveraged his budget for all stations more thoughtfully, providing dubs of my ads to competing stations to ensure consistent branding.

Sharing an authentic Chicago-style pizza recipe, I gave Lane a pan & plier set one Christmas so he could play. Volunteering my palette in the interest of science, he nailed it right from the start. The Chicago Style Pizza became his number two seller, right behind the Tostada Pizza, a local favorite after winning the "suggestions from our staff" contest.

Serving as the Vice President of the local car club, the Morrodders, fed my automotive jones. Taking photos of every registered vehicle to create slide shows for the Sunday awards programs was a hit at the annual shows. Five years passed in a blink, and learning we were soon to be grandparents, my Sweet Pea and I bought an RV, burning rubber on our way back to Florida. Much of our trip was spent discussing whether to keep or sell it after the move. The point was moot.

Our heated debate ended in flames in Chattanooga when a fuel line let go, dousing a hot exhaust manifold with gasoline. Blasting through orange barrels as we pulled to a stop, we got the pets out and watched as the bastard burned down to the waterline. Summoning my sisu, I unhitched our Sonata, piled our menagerie into the back seat, and continued to our new digs in Miramar, FL. Losing much of our treasure, we left clothes, appliances, televisions, and other loot behind as we motored on. When we arrived, I landed a day job in B2B sales at Apple, with benefits and everything.

In the fifteen years that followed, as Jeannee taught our four grandkids to swim, I opened OOMM 4.0. Lane back in Elko remained a client for several years, enjoying updated radio ads. David, the Lee Monster, is now the voice of Football on Westwood One Radio. We had a ball updating his website and launching his labor of love: The Titletown Music Archive. Tune in to enjoy music from the Lombardi era. And Chris (yes, that Chris) discovered my radio services website and suggested we reconnect. Sadly, I now have the time. A few days short of our 25th anniversary, Jeannee lost her second battle with cancer, leaving me to sally forth solo. Loaded a lifetime of stuff into a U-Haul, bought a trailer for my ‘68 Ford, and shipped my Santa Fe Sport to friends in the area.

Grateful for my big city Apple experience, upon retiring I charted a 1,700 mile course back to the god-forsaken hinterlands of Michigan. Shadow and I slept in the truck for two nights, and despite a flat on the trailer and the front fender on my Ford making like a kite, made it to Brethren, MI in three days.  

Still unpacking from the move, I began hearing radio reports of the upcoming blizzard. After stocking up on supplies, Shadow and I hunkered down as the winds picked up. Sap began running in the warm days before, freezing up as snow weighed down the limbs, and the violent winds snapped them off.

Limbs fell from the 100' pines, shaking the roof when they hit the house, and a big one hit the propane tank, missing the line to the house by less than a foot. Losing power twice for a total of about 20 hours during the blizzard, the temperature inside dropped as low as 51 degrees. Cold weather camping as a Boy Scout had prepared me for this, but not for what was outside.

When a tree snaps in half midway up, but the top doesn't fall, you get a widow maker. Mine was 30' up and aimed straight at the power line. My new neighbor, Michael, checked in with his pal Dave, an arborist, and they identified three more trees that had damage and/or had grown into threats to the house or outbuildings.

Once the power company took care of the widow maker, Michael and his brother Nate rented a lift and eliminated the remaining threats. The oak had split. but. thankfully. had not fallen. The house breathed a sigh of relief as the dangerous, overhanging limbs were removed. The Michigan Chainsaw Massacre raged on for three days.

The stump from the giant white pine right in front of a shed was left at bar height. The other two trunks will drop once we clean up what's already down. If you need tree service or firewood, call Michael at (231) 871-8293. Recommended without reservation.

OOMM 5.0 has reopened on the shore of Lake Elinor, ready to help you take your shot at the American Dream.

Sample the Smörgasbörd of Grizzled Brands. Visit Grizzled Clients. Listen to hits from the Lombardi Era until today at titletown.rocks.

Leverage 50+ years of business experience in your quest for success. Motor heads, misfits, broadcasters, business owners, big thinkers, fun lovers and you are invited to come aboard.

My motto has long been "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and then find the guy with the rum." This served me well in the Midwest, in the high desert, and on a sub-tropical island you can drive to. Shenanigans continue, including a diabolical plan: Become the guy with the rum! There is no cost to join my crew, just bring your ideas, your passions, and your favorite mug.

Hey! Ho! Let's Go!